Description

Yoshitsugu Yamashita (1865–1935) was a Japanese judoka. He was one of the earliest disciples of Jigoro Kano and the first person to be awarded 10th dan rank in judo, posthumously in 1935. He was also the first Japanese judo master to teach judo in the United States.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Well-documented student of Jigoro Kano, entered Kodokan in August 1884 as the 19th member, mentioned in multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia and Judo Channel

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onKodokan badge (1884)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented student of Jigoro Kano, entered Kodokan in August 1884 as the 19th member, mentioned in multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia and Judo Channel

  “Yoshitsugu Yamashita was the son of an Odawara Han martial arts instructor, and he entered Kodokan in August of 1884.”

  — Kodokan hall of fame: Yoshitsugu Yamashita (Judo Channel)link

  “In August 1884, he joined the Kodokan judo dojo of his childhood friend Kano Jigoro as its nineteenth member”

  — Yamashita Yoshitsugu - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Another man, who is now on the Kodokan Board of Trustees, Itsuro Munakata, became my student in February 1884. In August, the current highest dan grade holder, Yoshitsugu Yamashita, joined my dojo.”

  — Brian N. Watson. (2008). Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kanoinfo

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech10 dan Probable

  Probable

  Posthumously awarded 10th dan by Jigoro Kano on October 24, 1935, making him the first holder of the Kodokan 10th dan rank, well-documented in Judo Channel and other sources

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System

  granted by Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Posthumously awarded 10th dan by Jigoro Kano on October 24, 1935, making him the first holder of the Kodokan 10th dan rank, well-documented in Judo Channel and other sources

  “At the memorial ceremony held at Kodokan, Jigoro Kano posthumously awarded Mr. Yamashita the 10th Dan rank as of October 24th, making Mr. Yamashita the first holder of the Kodokan 10th Dan rank in recognition of his service.”

  — Kodokan hall of fame: Yoshitsugu Yamashita (Judo Channel)link

Students (2)

• 
  Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Well-documented in historical article 'Professor Yamashita Goes to Washington' with specific dates March-April 1904 practicing judo three afternoons a week in the White House

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1904)

  at Roosevelt's White House Judo Course

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented in historical article 'Professor Yamashita Goes to Washington' with specific dates March-April 1904 practicing judo three afternoons a week in the White House

  “So, during March and April 1904, Roosevelt practiced judo three afternoons a week, using a ground floor office in the White House as his workout space [...] Yamashita later said that while Roosevelt was his best pupil”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2000). Professor Yamashita Goes to Washington. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand alt_routeIndirect

  “I am very glad I have been doing this Japanese wrestling [...] Still I have made good progress, and since you have left they have taught me three new throws that are perfect corkers.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2000). Professor Yamashita Goes to Washington. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info
• 
  Takeshita Isamu

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1904–1905)

  at Roosevelt's White House Judo Course

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  “We had engaged Mr. Y. Yamashita, an expert on judo or jiu jitsu, from Japan as our instructor, and we, Mr. Roosevelt and I, used to take lessons in jiu jitsu very often in his library on the second floor of the White House.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info

Sources

Identifiers